Judson & Moore Rye

Judson & Moore Rye is a Chicago-distilled rye whiskey built on a 60% rye, 30% yellow corn, and 10% malted barley mash bill, bottled at 94 proof. Where most American ryes push 95% rye or the bare-minimum 51%, this mash strikes a middle ground — the higher proportion of yellow corn softens the spice and adds a layer of sweetness that makes the whiskey approachable without losing rye's signature backbone. Batch 3 ships from a city distillery working entirely with Illinois grain, a rarity in a Midwest spirits landscape still dominated by Kentucky and Indiana. Judson & Moore distills in Chicago and sources every grain from Illinois farms, a closed-loop approach that ties the whiskey to the same prairie soil that fed the city's pre-Prohibition distilling economy. The yellow corn in the mash is the anchor — it brings body and a mellow sweetness that balances rye's black-pepper punch and the malted barley's enzymatic backbone. The result is a rye that carries the varietal's character but doesn't demand your full attention, a style closer to the pre-rye-boom American tradition when rye was a blending grain as much as a solo act. The distillery's grain-to-glass model is documented on the Judson & Moore producer page, where the full story of Chicago's grain supply and the team behind the stills lives in detail. On the palate, this rye opens with black pepper and baking spice, then pivots to honey, caramel, and a faint cereal sweetness from the yellow corn. The 94 proof keeps it warm but not aggressive, and the finish is clean with a hint of cinnamon and toasted grain. It works neat, over a single large cube, or in a Manhattan where the vermouth won't get buried under rye heat. Pair it with grilled pork chops, aged cheddar, or a slice of pecan pie — the sweetness in the mash bill mirrors caramelized sugars and nutty, savory flavors without turning cloying. This is a weeknight pour as much as a cocktail base, a rye that fits into rotation without ceremony. Available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.